A Year After the Flood, AARP Hosts Disaster Forum

Recovery is a long way off for many Tennesseans

"It usually takes us about five years to close out an average disaster, and this was not an average disaster. There's not going to be quick recovery from this," Heidt said. It's too early to tell how many years emergency managers will spend responding to the flood.

The emotional toll is immeasurable, say those still working to help victims.